Combination variable speed pulley and engine throttle control for harvester threshers



Sept. 23, 1952 A. H. KELLER COMBINATION VARIABLE SPEED PULLEY AND ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL FOR HARVESTER THRESHERS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Jan. 19 1951 Sept. 23, 1952 A H. KELLER COMBINATION VARIABLE SPEED PULLEY AND ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL. FOR HARVESTER THRESHERS Filed Jan. 19 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Sept. 23, 1952 COIVIBINATION VARIABLE SPEED PULLEY AND ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL FOR HARVESTER THBESHERS Arthur H. Keller, Moline, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Co New Jersey mpany, a corporation of Application January 19, 1951, Serial No. 206,883

of this invention is the provision of means in a harvester thresher for I simultaneously shifting the transmission drive ratio for a threshing machine mechanism and including the cylinder upon the change of engin throttle control. I

Another important object of this invention is tosupply a variable speed V-belt transmission for combine thresher mechanisms and a single control lever forshiftin'g the drive ratio between the driving V-belt pulleys simultaneously with change in engine acceleration.

Another and still further important object of this invention is to provide means ina harvester thresher for maintaining constant speed of the threshing mechanisms and particularly the cylinder regardless of the'forward "speed of the ve- 'hicle.

Other and. further important objects will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings In the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is. :a side elevational view of a self-propelled harvester thresher incorporating the principles of this invention. r r

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Z-2 of Fig. 1.

vHarvester threshers, including self-propelled harvester threshers, are required to operate at relatively slow forward ground speeds. Threshing cylinders must run at a relatively constant speed in order to accomplish most effective grain and husk separation. When the threshing-elementsincluding the cylinder are drivenat various-speeds; the result is sporadic threshing wherein there is not aclean separation of grain and trash and there is a serious tendency for the grain to clog. It has thus been found essential to pro vide separate means for operating the forward speed offa harvester thresher and the driving of the thresher elements. The present-machine accomplishes a relatively constant rotational drive for the threshing cylinder and constant drive for is Claims. (01. 5620) the other thresher mechanisms despite various changes in ground speed although there is but a single source of power for effecting forward harvester thresher speed and drive of the thresher elements. It should be understood that this device would be applicable to other agricultural machines wherein it is desired to maintain a device with constant driven speed regardless of changes in ground speed. I

Thereference numeral I0 indicates generally a self-propelled harvester thresher or the like. The harvester thresher l0 includes a harvesting unit I! comprising a scoop-shovel type of platform l2 for the purpose of receiving and elevating grain into a separator or threshing mechanism l3. The separator includes many driven thresher elements, and among other things, a-threshing or rotating cylinder M. The cylinder I4 is rotated and, in cooperation with a concave 15, causes separation of the grain from the husks and trash. The self-propelled combine further includes a grain receiving tank 16, an engine l1, and an operators platform IS. A seat I9 is provided on the platform [8 and in close proximity thereto is a steering wheel 28 arranged and constructed to cause angular movement of the small rearwheels 2! of the combine. The forward end of the machine is supported by relatively large traction wheels 22 which are adapted to receive their rotational drive from the single engine H. A platform lifting mechanism in the form of a hand engaging wheel 23 and a link 24 is also mounted on the operators platform 18 as are brakes 25 and an engine throttle control lever 26.

The single engine or source of power ll is adapted to impart rotation to the traction wheels 22. The engine is provided with a drive shaft '21 which carries V-belt pulleys 28 and 29 for concurrent rotation. The V-belt pulley 28 has a V- belt 30 carried thereon, and the belt at its other end is mounted on a v-belt pulley 3!. The pulley 3| is mounted on a shaft 32 journaled in a bracket member 33 on the separator portion of the comblue. The shaft32 is additionally provided With a V-belt 34 of smaller diameter than the pulley 3|, and by means of a V-belt 35 rotational .drive of the shaft 32 is imparted to a V-belt pulley 36 mounted on the wheelshaft 31 of the traction wheel 22. The V-belt pulleys 3| and 34, in combination with the shaft 32 and bracket 33, con stitute a transmission or aspeed reduction device wherein drive from the engine I! is delivered with suitable power to the driven traction wheels"2 2.

A V-belt 38 is mounted on theV-beltpulley Z9 and imparts rotation to an adjustable 'V-belt 3 pulley 39 which is carried on a shaft 40. The details of this pulley 39 are best shown in Fig. 2. A V-belt 4| is carried on the pulley 39 and delivers rotational power to a second adjustable V-belt pulley 42 which in turn is mounted on the shaft 43. Theshaft 43 isalso the. shaft on which the threshing cylinder I4 is mounted. Thus rotation of the shaft effects rotation of the cylinder and other threshing elements within the separator mechanism |3 of this combine Ill.

The throttle control lever 26 is'pivoted at 44 on the platform structure I8. A link 45 is fastened at 46 to a depending portion 41 of the operating lever 26. A bell crank member 48 is,,.pivoted:'at 49 to the side wall of the separator. l3. aonearm 50 of the bell crank 48 is pivotally attached at to the link 45. The second arm 52. of. the bell crank 48 carries a substantially vertically 'disposed link 53 by reason of a pivotal connectioniat 54. The upper end of the link 53 is pivotally attached at-55.to a. lever arm 56 which constitutes the throttle control of the engine [1. The throttle -arin-56 isshown as havinga pivotal attachment -aizil-ton the engine It is thus apparentthat -foreaand aft swinging movement of the.lever i arm.-26will accomplish a .direct shiftingof the atrhtOttlB lever arm56-to thus control the speedat @whiclrthe engine I! is. driven. -The link 45 continues rearwardly beyond the, pivotal attachment .to thebellcrankll at5| asindicated by-.the

:numeral 58. .-A universal joint 59is shownas :constituting-aj part of the'overalllink- 45. .The endrportiona58 .-of the..link45 is thus :swingable athroughouta' considerable range byreason of the universal, joint 59. .Thesend of .the link. 58 is -shown I fastened vby means of. .a:.pivotal attach- .ment: at 60L to a,-.-shifter. fork 6 I.

iAs-best shown-in. Fig.2, the pulleys. 39 and.42 rareof the-typein whichthe wallspacings may be-varied. =The shaft-49 is a-stub shaft mounted .inia:supportingqhousing-62 which in turn; is .Jnountedon'theside wallxof' the thresher |3.-by .means ofbolts or the like 63. The housing-62 includes a .bracket -64 arranged and constructed to pivotallycarrythteshifter forkBl as shown at "65. The fork filiofv the shifter fork 6 projects inwardly adjacent .a bearing 'member- 61 which is :mountedwithin an internal-sleeve 68 of the shift- .able portion 69 of the pulleyt39. Thus asthe .link 58 ismoved. forwardly andrearwardlyby reason of movementof the lever arm :26, the

pulley..ha1f-69:is: moved toward and aWayfr-om the stationary portion 1 0. of the .pulley 39. A, nut "H engages athreaded extensionl'2- of. the shaft .49 maintaining thepulley half in fixedposi- .tiononthe shaft.

The .V-belt .pulley 42. similarlyhasa shifting portion l3=andaestationary portion 14. .A-bearing. member '|5..is carried in an. internal sleeve ..fiange 16. of the pulley half 73..and is adaptedv to .receivecontact by. a-fork 7'! .of a. shifter fork 'membjer '18. The .shifter .fork .inember 78 -is pivotally mounted at. 19.011 .a stationary .bracket ,BOformin'g 'part of a "superstructure 8| which i projects. outwardly I from attachment. to. the side wall'ofthelseparator |31by..means of bolts or theilike 82.

A diagonally disposed i link 83 has one .end "thereof pivotally fastened-at 601 to theshifter fork 6| andhthe link 58 and. its .other. end :is pivotally. fastened at 84 to the shifter. fork mem- 'ber 18. It is thusapparent that.longitudinal movement of .thellink mechanism .'45-58-.59 lcaussarcuatemovement-of. the fork 66-to effect Ia shiftingof. the portion 69. of-the .V.b'elt ..-pulley 39 to thus vary the spacing between the wall portions 69 and 10 of that pulley whereupon the V- belt 4| will ride either lower or higher within the pulley dependent upon the direction of movement of the shifter fork 66. It should thus be apparentthat the connecting link 83 between the shifter forks 6| and 18 will cause a simultaneous movement of the shifter fork 11 and thus a shifting of the portion 13 of the V-belt pulley 42. In- 10 asmuch as the shiftable pulley half 69 is on the opposite side from the shifting pulley half 13, .the.v=belt'pull'eys 39 and 42 will be simultaneous- "ly opened and closed respectively throughout the :same-distance. .ln'other words, as the pulley 39 ;:is1 opened, the-:pulley 42 will be closed and conversely when'thepulley 39 is closed, the pulley 42 will be opened. This insures that a fixed length of V- b'elt 4| "Willmemain under proper tension throughout all changes of drive ratio between the pulleys 39 and 42.

Thetuniversal joint: 59, permitszsufllcient. freedom of movement of the link 58 to provide'for the necessary change in direction inaccomplishing the shiftingof the shifter forks SI and 13. .A nut 85 engages a threaded extension 86 ofthe shaft 43 and abuts a splined sleeve 8l upon which .the pulley. half 13. is .-axially slidable. :The variablespeed V-belt pulley transmission of this-invention is shown .ingreaterdetailzin presently pending applications Serial -No. 135,557, filed December 29,.1949, now Patent Number 2,573,937, dated June 6, 1951, and Serial No...-183,797,.-filed .september 8,1950. 3

.In-operatiom. an operatorof the-combine of this invention-is seated in the seat IS on. the-platform l 8- and after-starting the engine- I 1. controls forward movement iof .the .harvester :thresher through fields of either standing or windrowed grain by. reason: of thersteering wheel. The 4 scoop-shovel type of"platform l2 may be-vertical- .lyadjustedso as tovarytheheight of cut 'or fpick-up 'by meansof :rotating the adjusting wheel 23 whereupon the connecting. 'link' 24rlattached at its lower end to :the platformf ||1will 'cause either upward or downward-movement. of the scoop shovel about its pivotal mounting. 81 on the separator |3. Accelerationor deceleration'of theengine I1. is accomplished byr'shiftingzof the .lever 28 whereupon thethrottle. lever'56.of the engine is directly moved to cause the desired -change inspeed ofthe. engine. "WhenIthe grain ina'field 'is particularly; heavy, it is quite essential that the forward 'movement :of tthe' harvester thresher be extremely slow:in:'order that" the harvesting .and threshing mechanisms 'may handle thequantityofgrainand cause efficient threshing. As it has beeniexplained previously, the engine. through .a suitable transmission mechanism 3| to 34 inclusive drives the ground engaging. traction wheels 22, and thuschange in engmespeed directly variestheiground speed'of theentire self-propelled combine. Similarly the :engine ll controls the .drive-to' the threshing cylinder: 41and. other driven thresher 1 elements. Itis quite'essential that the threshing. mechanism and. particularly the:cylinder-continue' to'be driven and rotated-ata-constant speed regardless of the forward-speed of the-vehicle. It would be mpossible to bringabout-I satisfactory separation of grainand; husks :if thenthreshing mechanism .were to be slowed. down commensurate. with the forward: speed of the vehicle. Dbviously, with a. greater quantity. of grain beingrpassed through the: harvester thresher asevidenced by the slow- :75..1ng downof ether forward .speedmf ;'the machine,

the increased load could not be handled by slower speed of the threshing mechanism, and, further, it has been found from continued experiments that clean separation occurs only throughout a small range of speeds of the threshing mechanism. Thus, means has been provided in the present invention which is directly associated with the throttle control lever 26 to simultaneously shift the drive ratio between the V- belt pulleys 39 and 42 in an amount sufficient to automatically compensate for changes in speed of the engine if to maintain a constant speed of the threshing mechanism and particularly of rotation of the threshing cylinder Id. The link 45, which joins the lower extension 41 of the lever arm 26 with the bell crank 48 for operation of the engine throttle arm 55, continues rearwardly in the form of a universal joint 59 and an extension link 58. The link 58 joins the shifter fork 6| of the variable V-belt pulley which carries engine rotation to the threshing mechanism. Inasmuch as the link 45 is supported at spaced points 45 and 5!, the links 45 and 58 will thus not be permitted to fall at the universal joint 59 but will rather remain on a substantially horizontal level to provide for easy and direct shifting of the pulley spacings of the pulleys 39 and 42 simultaneously with the change in speed of the engine 11. The device of this invention is so arranged that when the engine I! has its speed reduced by shifting of the throttle arm 56 there will be suitable change in the V-belt drive mechanism 39- 42 to maintain a constant speed of rotation of the pulley shaft 43 and thus also the threshing mechanism and cylinder l4.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a thresher, a drive mechanism comprising an engine, a throttle control for said engine, a threshing mechanism, a variable spaced V-belt transmission interposed between said engine and said threshing mechanism, shifting means for effecting change in the ratio of V-belt transmission, a rockable lever, and link means joining said rockable lever with said throttle controland with said shifting means for simultaneously changing engine speed and ratio of V-belt transmission to said threshing mechanism by rocking said rockable lever.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said variable speed V-belt transmission includes spaced apart V-belt pulleys, each of said V-belt pulleys having a shiftable portion and a stationary portion, said shiftable portion shiftable toward and away from said stationary portion, said shifting means including a shifting fork positioned adjacent each of said pulleys and arranged and constructed to move said shiftable portion of each V-belt pulley, said shiftable portion of each of said pulleys oppositely disposed, and a diagonal link joining each of said shifting forks.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said link means joins said diagonal link whereby movement of said rockable lever causes change in engine speed and simultaneously a change in the drive ratio of the variable speed V-belt transmission.

4. A device as set forth in Cl'aiin ..1 which a universal joint is provided in said link means between said throttle control and said shifting means whereby compensation is had for various angular dispositions of the diagonal link and the link means.

5. In a self-propelled harvester thresher, a drive mechanism comprising an engine, a throttle control for said engine, ground wheels, a threshing mechanism, first means transmitting engine drive to said ground wheels, second means transmitting engine drive to said threshing mechanism, said second means including a variable speed V-belt transmission, shifting means for effecting change in the variable speed V-belt transmission, and lever and link means joining said throttle control and said shifting means for simultaneously changing engine speed and changing the ratio of V-belt transmission to said threshing mechanism.

6. A drive for threshing cylinders comprising a variable V-belt transmission, an engine, a throttle control for said engine, and operating means for simultaneously moving said engine throttle control and said variable speed V-belt transmission whereby the threshing mechanism may be automatically driven at a constant speed regardless of changes in engine speed, said variable speed V-belt transmission including spaced apart V-belt pulleys, each of said V-belt pulleys having a shiftable portion and a stationary portion, said shiftable portion movable toward and away from said stationary portion, and said operating means including a pivotally mounted lever arm, link means joining said pivotally mounted lever arm and said engine throttle control, shifter forks arranged and constructed to move each of said shiftable pulley portions toward and away from said stationary portions, and a continuation of said link means joining said shifter forks.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which a universal joint is provided in said link means continuation.

8. An agricultural machine comprising an engine, a throttle control for said engine, ground wheels for said machine, an element to be rotated on said machine, first means transmitting engine drive to said ground wheels, said means transmitting engine drive to said element to be rotated, said second means including a variable speed V- belt transmission, shifting means for effecting change in the variable speed V-belt transmission, and lever and link means joining said throttle control and said shifting means for simultaneously changing engine speed and changing the ratio of V-belt transmission to said element to be rotated.

ARTHUR H. KELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,085,108 Cake Jan. 27, 1914 1,388,449 Brasseur Aug. 23, 1921 2,215,831 Heyer Sept. 24, 1940 2,479,764 Morton et al. Aug. 23, 1949 

